Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME)

Application Period: Typically January of each year

The Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides formula grants to states and local governments that communities use, often in partnership with local community-based non-profits, to fund activities.

Purpose

Expand the capacity of nonprofit Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) to develop and manage affordable housing.

Affordable housing is considered housing for low to moderate-income persons in the county (this is based upon income and family size). Supportive housing would be housing with support services, such as, case management, job readiness training, etc. which allows formerly homeless or persons with disabilities transition to self sufficiency.

Funding Requirements

Funding Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HOME funds are awarded annually to Harford County to be used for activities that will improve housing opportunities. Each year Harford County must submit to HUD a Consolidated Action Plan containing specific information on how they will use their HOME allocation. The Consolidated Plan is:

The foundation, which all the community's affordable housing efforts are built

A tool to learn about the communities housing and development needs, to inventory its resources, to establish priorities for addressing those needs, and to develop concrete strategies for fulfilling those priorities

A process that provides a forum for the citizens in the community to voice their opinion on the County's plans and results

Harford County awards funding to existing housing programs, non-profit developers, and local Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs). To discuss your project's feasibility, please contact Housing & Community Development at 410-638-3045.

Match Requirements

HUD requires a 25% non-federal match for each eligible HOME activity.

Affordability Requirements

Affordability means a property assisted with HOME funds must be restricted to income eligible residents. In the case of rental projects, rents are restricted as well. Based upon the amount, or the type of activity using HOME funds in a property, it must remain affordable for the following time periods:

$15,000 to $40,000 for 15 years

>$40,000 for 15 years

New construction of Rental Housing for 20 years

Refinancing of Rental Housing for 15 years

Rental Housing

Developers interested in providing rental housing in Harford county should contact Housing & Community Development at 410-638-3045 to discuss their project.

Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO)

Harford County, through the HOME Program, is making an investment in the future of local nonprofit housing groups. Harford County provides funds to CHDO's to own, develop, or sponsor affordable housing projects. Not every private, nonprofit organization qualifies as a CHDO. This term is reserved for those that:

Provide decent housing that is affordable to low and moderate-income persons as a part of their organizational mission (though they may perform other functions as well).

Have effectively carried out activities financed by HOME funds.

Have a history of serving the community where the HOME-funded housing will be located.

Are organized under State or local laws and exempt from taxes under 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Meet standards of financial accountability.

1/3 of CHDO's governing board must be made up of low-income community residents or elected representatives of those residents.

CHDOs must also maintain a formal process that allows low-income residents and other program beneficiaries to provide input on relevant decisions. This process must be a part of the organizations by-laws.

For information on becoming a CHDO call Housing & Community Development at 410-638-3045.

Application Process

This application is for HOME funds set aside for CHDOs. To apply for HOME funds if you are not a CHDO, please use the CDBG/HOME application during the funding period.